Drum beater



April 24, 1962 J. B. THOMPSON DRUM BEATER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 24. 1960 April 24, 1962 oM soN DRUM BEATER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filedy 24, 1950 INVENTOR JosEPHus B. HOMPSO/J ATToEMEh.

April 24, 1962 J. B. THOMPSON DRUM BEATER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 24, 1960 fTuaE INVENTOR. JO5EPHU5 5. HOMPfiO/V Q/ Jud W n44 ATTOEA/Ef April 24, 1962 J. B. THOMPSON DRUM BEATER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 24, 1960 INVENTOR.

J05EPHU$ B. 774on squ BY 2%4%W-JL ATTUPA/EX United States Patent 3,030,847 DRUM HEATER Josephus B. Thompson, Covington, Ohio, assignor to Joseph Rogers, Inc, Cleveland, Ohio Filed May 24, 1960, Ser. No. 31,398 3 Claims. (Cl. 84-422) This invention relates to drum beaters and particularly to a foot pedal operated beater mechanism for bass drums.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a foot pedal operated beater mechanism for drums whose beater height may be raised or lowered without changing the length of the beater stroke.

Another object is to provide a foot pedal mechanism of the type stated whose beater stroke length can be varied without changing the beater height.

Another object is to provide a pedal mechanism having a footboard whose overall length may be adjusted to fit the users foot size and which can also be swiveled from left to right to adapt itself to the natural angle of the users foot for comfortable operation.

Still another object is to provide a foot pedal having adjustable spurs which act to prevent creeping of the pedal and attached drum.

A further object is to provide easily reached top adjustment of the beater stroke tensioning means.

Another object is to provide a device of the type stated having a quick action drum attaching and releasing clamp, which, after initial installation on the drum hoop, will enable the drum to be instantly locked to the pedal mechanism in the proper playing position, or to be released therefrom, without the use of keys, wrenches or tools of any kind.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification and claims together with the accompanying drawing, wherein like parts are referred to and indicated by like reference numerals and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of the foot pedal operated beater mechanism for drums that is the subject of this invention, shown in its operational position locked to the hoop of a conventional bass drum;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged right end view of the same, showing the beater head in alternate positions;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged right end view showing the beater head in alternate adjusted position relative to both height and length of head stroke;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view, with parts broken away, taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 4--4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary top plan view taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged top plan view of the base with the drum engaging clamp removed;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the drum engaging clamp as it appears mounted on a drum hoop;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view through the hoop and clamp taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 88 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the footboard taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 9--9 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view of the heel plate taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 1010 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of the separable inter-lock between the footboard and the swivel plate taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 1111 of FIGURE 2; and

3,030,847 Patented Apr. 24, 1962 FIGURE 12 is an enlarged sectional view of the toe guard, taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 1212 of FIGURE 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is seen in FIGURE 1 the foot pedal operated beater mechanism that is the subject of this invention, broadly indicated by reference numeral 20, as it appears in operational locked engagement with the hoop 22 of a conventional bass drum 21.

Reference numeral 23 indicates the pedal base which is in the form of a metal casting having an upstanding cylinder post 24.

Two vertically movable spurs 25 and 26 are mounted at the side edges of the base 23. Each spur has a pointed end that can be pressed, as at 26a, into a soft surface, such as a wooden floor, to anchor the base against creeping. The spurs are locked in either depressed or raised positions by means of bolts 27.

Two pad receiving recesses 29 are located in the base ahead of the post 24, as is seen most clearly in FIGURE 6. Each recess 29 has a socket 34.

Reference numeral 28 indicates a substantially V-shaped depression in the base top surface, open to the rear edge thereof.

Reference numeral 30 indicates the drum clamp lock screw, which is mounted through the base end of the post 24 at an angle such that its conical tip 38 will engage the inclined face of one of the ears of the drum clamp 31, to be described hereinafter.

The clamp 31 is intended to be permanently mounted on the drum hoop 22. The clamp 31 comprises a concave plate 31a curved to match the curvature of the hoop 22. Two pads 32, of a shape to inter-fit the base recesses 29, are positioned on the underside of the clamp and are curved upward and backward upon themselves to form the upwardly inclined ears 35 and 36, respectively. Each pad has a dependent lug 33 adapted to fit into the sockets 34. 4

Reference numeral 39 indicates two slotted gripper plates which fit over the ears 35 and 36 and are pressed against the inner surface of the hoop 22, by gripper bolts 37, to anchor the clamp on the hoop as is seen most clearly in FIGURES 7 and 8. The clamp 31 so attached to the drum hoop 22, is anchored to the pedal base 24 by fitting the pads 32 into the recesses 29, with the pad lugs 33 inserted in the sockets 34.

The so positioned clamp 31 is locked in place by the screw 30 whose conical tip 38 is made to press firmly against the angularly inclined clamp ear 35, as seen in FIGURES 1, 2 and 5. The angular inclination of the ear 35 and the cone tip 38 being substantially the same so that the advancing cone exerts a downward pressure which locks the clamp 31 and attached drum hoop 22 firmly to the base 23.

It should be noted that the clamp 31 and its attached drum 21 can be easily lifted from the base 23 by merely withdrawing the screw 30 from the car 35. Furthermore, the drum will always be positioned at the proper distance from and angle to the bracket post 24, without any attention on the part of the user, when re-attached to the base, since the clamp 31 is intended to be permanently mounted on the drum hoop 22, as stated above, and will therefore reposition the drum correctly when the pads and lugs are re-seated in their respective mating base recesses and sockets.

A T bracket 66 is telescopically mounted in the cylinder post 24 and is movable vertically thereof between adjusted positions. The bracket 66 is locked in place by means of two bolts 69 which bear against a flat surface 67 cut in the face of the vertical leg of the bracket, which in this instance is circular in cross-section.

A beater axle 78 is journaled through the housing or transverse section 70 of the bracket on needle bearings 71 and 72, as is seen most clearly in FIGURE 4.

A radially extending tilt arm 75 is journaled on a collar 73 at one end of the axle housing 70. The tilt arm 75 may be locked in adjusted positions by means of a lock bolt 76 which engages a groove 74 in the collar 73. Lateral movement of the tilt arm 75 is prevented by a flat-headed retaining screw 77, which bears slidably against the edge 73e of the collar 73.

An axle locating rocker arm 87 is immovably mounted on the end of the axle 78 immediately adjacent the tilt arm 75. The end of the rocker arm 87 is connected to the upper end of the tilt arm 75 by means of a helical spring 89 which is anchored between posts 88 and 86 on the arms 87 and 75, respectively. The spring 89 keeps the rocker arm 87 aligned with the tilt arm 75, so that the angular inclination of both arms is normally always the same. Thus the normal, at rest, angular inclination of anything mounted on the axle 78, such as the beater shaft 85, can be varied by tilting the arm 75.

The tension of the spring 89 is varied by means of the spring bolt 90 and the thumb nut 91.

A rocker cam 79 is mounted on the other end of the axle 78 by means of a set screw 92. The cam 79 has a bore 82 therethrough in which the beater shaft 85 is mounted and held in place by set screw 83.

The shaft 85 has a heater head 84, of the conventional type, mounted at the top end thereof.

The cam 79 is connected to the foot pedal 40, to be described hereinafter, by means of a flexible belt, or strap 80, which follows the curved surface of the cam and is anchored thereto, at its end, by a bolt 81. The shape of the rocker cam 79 is such that the axle 78 will be rotated toward the attached drum 2.1, when the strap 88 is pulled downward by the foot pedal 40.

The foot pedal, broadly indicated by reference numeral 40, is fully adjustable as to over-all length, to accommodate different foot sizes, as well as to being adjustable for angular disposition with reference to the main base 23 and its attached drum 21..

The foot pedal 40" comprises a heel plate base 51 which is connected to the pedal base 23 through a tie-rod 54 which in turn is connected through a detachable interlock 63x to plate 59, pivotally anchored in the groove through a pivot pin 60.

Angle plate 59 may be swiveled cross-wise of the V depression 28 and locked in adjusted positions by means of the bolt 62 which passes through a transverse slot 61.

Reference numeral 63 indicates a tubular sleeve, positioned cross-wise of the end of the angle plate 59. A lock-pin 65, mounted in a housing 64, is normally biased into the sleeve bore by a spring 67.

A plunger 57, including a handle 56, is mounted crosswise of the end of the tie-rod 54, as is seen most clearly in FIGURE 11. The plunger '7 has a circumferential groove 58 and is adapted to be pushed into the sleeve 63 and locked therein by the spring biased pin 65 which engages the groove 58. The plunger 57 may be removed from the sleeve 63 by pulling on the handle 56.

The other end of the tire-rod 54 passes through a bore 53 in the heel plate base 51, as seen most clearly in FIG- URE 9, and the base 51 may be locked in adjusted positions lengthwise of the tie-rod 54 by means of the bolt 55.

The heel plate base 51 has two spaced ears 52, carrying pivot shafts 48 on which the heel-plate 41 is tiltably mounted.

Reference numeral 41 indicates a treadle portion, on which the ball of the foot rests, slidably joined to the heel plate 47' by means of a bolt 50 positioned in the heel plate 47 and passed through a longitudinal slot 42 in the treadle. The bolt 50 is threadedly anchored in a yoke 49 positioned on the underside of the treadle slot 42 as seen in FIGURE 10. The treadle 41 may be locked in adjusted positions lengthwise of the heel-plate 47 by tightening the bolt 50.

toe-guard 44 may be locked in adjusted positions lengthwise of the slot 43 by means of bolt 45.

It will be evident that the pedal 40 can be adjusted to fit feet of varied length by suitable manipulation of the mutually movable elements of the pedal, namely, the treadle 41, heel-plate 47 by loosening bolt 55 and toe guard 44 by loosening screw 45. i

The entire pedal 46 can be swiveled from right to left with the plate 59 to provide a natural and comfortable position for the foot.

The tie-rod 54 can be disconnected from the sleeve 63 and the pedal 40,.still attached to the strap 80, can be folded against the bracket 24 for compact storage. 7

Referring to FIGURES l and 2, it will be seen that in its normal non-operative, at rest position, the rocker arm 87 is held in alignment with the tilt arm 75 by the spring 89. Any force acting to rock the arm 87 out of alignment with the tilt arm 75 is resisted by the spring 89, and the spring will act to return the arm 87 to its normal position upon removal of the rocking force. The resistive tension of the spring 89 can be easily varied by manipulating the thumb nut 91 which is conveniently available at the top end of the arm 75.

When the pedal 40 is depressed, the beater axle and at tached beater head 84 are rocked into their operative or drum beating position, as indicated by reference numeral 8401.

When the pedal pressure is released the tilt arm spring 89 rocks the arm 87, axle 78 and attached beater head 84 back to their inoperative, or rest position. Thus, suitable rhythmic variation of the pressure exerted on the pedal 40 will automatically produce a corresponding beating of the drum 21.

The length of the stroke of the beater head 84 and the height of its point of impact from the rim of the drum head, both determine the type of sound given out by the drum.

In conventional mechanical, drum beating devices, variation in stroke can only be obtained by shortening or lengthening the efiective length of the beater head shaft. If the shaft is lengthened, the stroke length is not only lengthened but the point of contact between the beater head and the drum is also raised. Similarly, shortening of the beater shaft not only shortens the stroke but also lowers the point of contact.

In contrast, with'applicants device the stroke length and impact point between the heater and drum heads can be varied independently and without affecting each other.

Referring particularly to FIGURE 3, it will be seen that by tilting the arm 75 to the position 75a the rest position of beater arm 85 is correspondingly tilted to the position indicated by reference numeral 85a, so that the length of stroke of the beater head 84 is made greater with reference to the drum head 21. At the same time the spot at which the drum head will be struck remains the same, since the effective length of the beater shaft 85 remains constant.

Again, the point at which the drum head 21 is struck by the beater head 84 can be varied by raising or lower ing the bracket 66 which in turn raises or lowers the axle 78 and its attached beater shaft 85 and head 84. At the same time it will be noted that the distance of the beater head 84 from the axle 78 remains constant, so that the stroke length is unchanged.

It will now be clear that there is provided a device which accomplishes the objectives heretofore set forth. While the invention has been disclosed in its preferred form, it is to be understood that the specific embodiment thereof as described and illustrated herein is not to be considered in a limited sense as there may be other forms or modifications of the invention which should alsobe and.

construed to come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a bass drum beater mechanism, drum anchoring means, comprising, a base; an upstanding post mounted on the base, the base having a pair of spaced pad receiving recesses formed therein, forwardly of the upstand ing post; a clamp plate adapted to be clamped to the hoop of the drum, having a pair of spaced pads on the underside thereof of a shape and size to snugly interfit the base recesses; and a lock bolt threadedly mounted through the post and engageable at its point end with the so positioned clamp plate, to press same firmly into the base recesses to anchor it and its attached drum securely to the base.

2. In a bass drum beater mechanism, drum anchoring means, comprising, a base, an upstanding post mounted on the base; the base also having a pair of spaced pad recesses, with a lug socket in each recess, positioned forwardly of the upstanding post; a concave clamp plate adapted to seat against the convex surface of the drum head hoop; the clamp plate having two spaced pads mounted on the underside thereof of a shape and size to nest within the base recesses and including dependent lugs adapted to interfit the aforesaid base lug sockets; each of the pads having an extension that is curved upwardly and inwardly over the upper concave face of the clamp plate to provide angularly inclined terminal ear portions, spaced upwardly of the plate; a gripper plate mounted on each ear and adapted to engage the concave surface of the hoop nested under the ears; a bolt mounted through the free end of each ear and engageable with the gripper plates to press them firmly against the hoop to anchor the clamp plate thereon; and, a lock screw, having a conical point, mounted through the post in a horizontal plane, and engageable, at its point end, with one of the clamp ears when the clamp pads and lugs are nested within their respective base recesses and sockets, to press same firmly into said cavities and anchor the clamp plate and its attached drum securely to the base.

3. In combination with a bass drum, a foot pedal operated beater mechanism, comprising, a base having an upstanding hollow post; clamp means mounted on the drum rim and engageable with the base to anchor the drum to the base with its head in a vertical plane immediately ahead of the post; a T shaped bracket telescopically mounted within the post for vertical movement thereof, relative to the base, and having a horizontally disposed axle housing at its upper end; locking means mounted on the post and engageable with the bracket to lock the so supported housing in adjusted vertical positions; a horizontally extending beater axle mounted for oscillation within said housing, having a radially extending rocker arm mounted at one end thereof and a radially extending beater stem, including a head, mounted at the other end thereof; a radially extending tilt arm co-axially mounted on the housing adjacent the axle rocker arm and tiltable between adjusted locked positionsrrelative to the long axis of the beater axle; an adjustable helical tension spring mounted on the tilt arm, substantially parallel thereto, and connected to the free end of the rocker arm to cause the rocker arm and attached axle to assume a rest position wherein the rocker arm is in parallel alignment with the tilt arm; the tilt arm being pivotable on the housing, between adjusted locked positions, to change the angular inclination of the rest position of the rocker arm and attached beater stem head with reference to the plane of the anchored drum head; a foot pedal pivotally mounted on the base; and, an operating connection between the pedal and the beater axle to rotate same from its rest position and cause the beater head to travel a predetermined arc before striking the drum head, when the foot pedal is depressed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 922,706 Ludwig May 25, 1909 1,769,712 Pignocco July 1, 1930 2,446,508 Crowell Aug. 3, 1948 2,540,051 Ludwig Jan. 30, 1951 2,784,635 Troppe Mar. 12, 1957 

